Rated: M
Disclaimer: I don't own them, I just like writing about them
Chapter Seven
The last thing she wanted was for Sonny to catch her eavesdropping on a private conversation between him and Ric, especially when they were obviously discussing business. Carly could hear the man now, all but ordering her from the room of her own house as if she were Michael, their ten-year-old son and not his wife. She hated the little compartments Sonny placed women into. Madonna or whore. And certainly not involved in the business. Moreover, she knew which category she didn't fit into. Sometimes she wondered why she bothered.
She certainly hadn't come downstairs with the intention of listening in on Sonny. Things were tense with this mob war with the Alcazars and the different hits his business had taken so she was trying to be the understanding wife and give him a break. She hadn't caused a fight in weeks, nor had she brought up his cheating, though she had reason to believe something had changed there recently. He came home Saturday night early and with an attitude when she knew that he had gone to see that McCall skank.
In fact, Sonny was the furthest thing from her mind. She had been on her way out for the evening now that the kids were in bed and Leticia was keeping an eye on them. The slinky little drop waist dress in a chic cocoa and suede slouch boots was perfect for plans. She had a man to find.
Jason Morgan.
Mama introduced her to Keeley Marcello at her dinner party and at first, Carly had been concerned that the man she had her eye on was involved with the exotic attorney. There was a familiarity between them that spoke of a long time acquaintance but Jason had treated Keeley like family and not a woman he was sleeping with.
They were new to Port Charles, recently in from Spain of all places, but uncertain about the duration of their visit. Absolutely perfect. A short-term affair with the man who was the epitome of sex was exactly what she needed to take the sting off Sonny's latest affair. She tried drawing Jason into conversation about himself but he had been remarkably tight lipped despite her best efforts.
She asked about Spain and he gave her the bare minimum. She asked why he was in Port Charles after leaving what had to be a marvelous country and he gave her a vague business response that she equated with something Sonny always said. She knew he was in the business, muscle didn't' make a show of force like he and his people did that night in the Metro Court unless they were in the organization.
She just wondered if he were working with Alcazar. If so, Sonny had more trouble than he bargained for. She knew the Alcazars were dangerous from the few glimpses she had of the around the city but Jason Morgan was a new beast altogether.
She could have hit the usual spots in the city to begin her search but had a feeling that Jake's was more Jason Morgan's speed. If all played out the way she anticipated, tonight they would be making use of one of those rooms that were rented out above the bar.
"So you're telling me that someone took out all twelve of the Alcazars shipping lines," the incredulity in Sonny's voice caught her attention and pulled her from the lusty thoughts of sex. He stood from his seat on the couch and walked to the bar, pouring himself a glass of water and drained it down quickly which told her that he was nervous. Before being diagnosed with his bipolar disorder, Sonny would down scotch like that when he worried about business. "All twelve, simultaneously?"
"Yeah. I don't know how they managed it. Whoever is responsible took a large portion of Alcazar product with them in that little coup." Ric set down his papers and leaned back to watch his brother with shifty eyes.
Ric was always anticipating the angles, always looking for an in that would further his own personal agenda. Since their precious bonding moment during Sonny's breakdown, the two brothers had been inseparable. Ric was no longer just Sonny's lawyer. He was his right hand. He was family. After all the time of being held at a distance, Ric finally achieved the impossible. Sonny's favor. Carly tried to warn Sonny that Ric wasn't to be trusted, but Sonny believed in the little sociopath no matter what she said.
"And you're certain it wasn't any of our people?" Sonny actually sounded hopeful, but even she could have told him that no one Sonny employed was capable of hitting the Alcazars that hard and in one night.
"No, it wasn't one of ours," Ric answered and Carly rolled her eyes in disgust. Ours. As if Ric had anything to do with what Sonny had built, instead of coming in Monday morning quarterbacking. "My contact with the PCPD told me that two of Alcazars ships were sunk just before reaching US waters two days ago as well. Whoever is behind this attack, is thorough Sonny. We need to find out."
"Stan said that one of his people heard new muscle arrived in the city the other night. He's thought it was some of Alcazars people. If it's they're new, then he needs to know." Sonny looked more shaken than he probably intended to reveal. This in turn caused a flicker of apprehension to tighten in her stomach. In all the years of their marriage, she had been confident of Sonny's ability to protect himself and their family. These doubts were disturbing. She had two children to think of, and her husband worried was enough to chill her blood.
Sonny's organization had weakened over the years. First losing Stone to AIDS, then Zander in that gunfight with the police, Sonny hadn't had a real enforcer in years and it was left to Milo and Max. The two brothers were good guards but enforcing Sonny's territory and instilling fear in Sonny's enemies, they could never do. Placing Ric, an Ivy League attorney, as his right hand was just one more mistake in a long line of mistakes that just might one day be the end of Sonny's hold on Port Charles.
The Alcazars were already a threat, but from what Carly could hear, there was a menace more dangerous that would probably mow both organizations down before this was all over. Carly allowed a small smile of pleasure to touch her lips. If she were correct, Jason Morgan was apart of that organization.
Nothing like sleeping with the enemy to protect her best interests.
Deciding to announce her presence, she clomped loudly down the stairs from her hiding place, "Sonny, I'm going out." By the time she reached the bottom of the stairs, whatever the two brothers had been discussing was pushed away.
Always hiding things from her, she silently seethed. She supposed she could have shared her thoughts about who she believed to be responsible for hitting Sonny's enemy. Only she would get the whole spying lecture, and neither man would believe her anyway. Far be it for the little wife to have figured out the threat before the big strong husband did. Or worse be told not to concoct any of her crazy plans.
Hmm, little did Sonny realize one of her "crazy plans" had landed her in his bed and gotten her a ring on her finger. And before that, she divorced AJ, the Quartermaine heir, taking fifteen percent of the ELQ, family company, as part of her settlement. Then she proceeded to sell it to Jasper Jacks, the corporate raider, for a tidy profit. So maybe, just maybe, her plans weren't so crazy after all.
"Out?" Sonny frowned, and stalked over to her, "Tonight? No, it's better if you stay home for a while until things are settled."
Like hell she would. "Sonny, I'm just going to Mama's." She placed a hand on his cheek and smiled innocently, "I know that it's dangerous now, I promise I won't do anything stupid."
"That's kind of an oxymoron isn't it Carly," Ric shot back from his spot on the other side of the room.
"Cute," she wrinkled her nose, preferring to avoid this battle. "No I think the only moron in this room is you." It was a weak comeback but Sonny would have been suspicious if she had let Ric's insult go without responding. "Now, Leticia is keeping an eye on Michael and Delia, and knows to put them to bed at nine. I'm just going to see if Mama needs any help with the hospital fundraiser. You remember right? The bachelor's auction she has planned to raise funds for the new neonatal wing?"
Carly lifted an eyebrow, a wicked gleam flickering in her blue eyes, "I would ask if you wanted to participate Ric, but we don't need nickels and dimes for contributions. That fifteen cents you would bring in, well, I think Michael could cover that with his allowance."
Ric stepped forward to retaliate, but Sonny held him off, "Fine Carly, go. Make sure you take Max with you."
She leaned down to press a kiss to his mouth, "Of course, I'll see you later tonight." She winked and left happily, knowing it would be simple to lose Max once she arrived at her mother's brownstone. Thirty minutes with Mama and she could leave out the back door and head over to Jake's where hopefully she would find her boy on the side.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Sam pulled open the heavy metal door of the bar and was greeted with the familiar aroma of sweat, cheap alcohol and stale grease. The rowdy sounds of people out for this Wednesday night mixed with the plaintive feminine wail and heavy guitar rifts of Evanescence. It brought memories of other seedy bars she had entered in her life and none were nostalgic.
Coming here tonight was probably a mistake. This was a path in her life that she was trying to change. Drinking, dating the wrong kind of man, coming to bars. Only she had seen the young man and what looked like his sister on the docks as she was making her way back to her studio and they had been talking about going to Jake's for the night.
Guy in a leather jacket, girl in a mink, obviously from money, probably mid twenties, and this Jake's they spoke of hadn't sounded like a bad way to spend the rest of her evening. A beer, a little music, Sam figured the worst that would happen was that she would be the oldest woman there.
How was she to know her two yuppies would be slumming it tonight?
Rather than turn around and face another night alone in her silent apartment she continued forward. Just like she expected, the place was crowded, but it wasn't so bad. These looked like ordinary people out for the night, a few dockworkers, and some people from the hospital. She even spotted the little blonde waitress Maxie, who worked in Kelly's, at a table in the corner with that police detective Lucky Spencer sharing a drink and a meal.
A blonde was running a game of pool, hustling the group of men pretty well, judging from their grunts of disgust. A flick of hair over her shoulder revealed the infamous Carly Corinthos and Sam quickly turned away wanting to avoid the confrontation she could all but smell brewing. If she had sense, she would leave but pride had her taking the free stool at the bar that was closest to the door.
She was here, she would have a beer and then leave. At least then, it wouldn't feel like Carly was running her out of the place. The bartender, a scruffy bearded man who looked like a bad reject from the seventies, took smiled down at her. Yeah, he even had the prerequisite printed shirt with wide collar and funky pants. No, scratch that. He looked like a bad reject from a seventies porn movie. She could almost hear the tacky music twanging as he walked from his end of the bar to her and leaned down in her face.
"Hey sugar," he licked his lips and wiggled a knowing brow, which caused her to bite her lip to hold back the snicker of laughter. "You're new here, aren't you?"
"And what gave me away?" she smirked. When he reached out to run a finger along the side of her face, she jerked her head back. "You wanna lose that digit?"
"Hey, sugar," he raised both hands in all mock innocence. "I'm just being friendly. Name's Coleman, I own this place," he said as if that was supposed to impress her.
"Well Coleman," she smiled seductively and leaned forward. His eyes flickered briefly to her open coat, where the red deep v-neck sweater stretched over her breasts. "Sugar," she pointed out, making him look up again. When she ran her tongue over her lips, his eyes followed the movement. "That means you'll be perfectly capable of bringing me a Dos Equis, unopened, with a shot of silver Patron on the side."
Instead of being offended, he chuckled and reached under the bar, "You're cute, Sugar. I like that in a woman." He set the shot in front of her first, then her chaser for which she was grateful. Coleman might be a bit of an idiot but he seemed harmless. "What brings you to Jake's tonight?"
Sam lifted a shoulder, "Bored." Lonely, she amended. Strange dreams of some mystery figure with blue eyes haunting her. Her fascination with vampires aside, it was completely different to feel as if she were constantly being watched. Or worse going insane. For four nights in a row, she had been awakened from a deep sleep, almost as if she were drawn awake by some compulsion.
The pull would take her to her window but all she would find was the cold night and a sense of loss that she couldn't understand. Breaking up with Sonny couldn't be the cause of that terrible emptiness. Nothing she had ever felt for the man hinted at these emotions.
Shoving the troubling thoughts aside, she nodded over her shoulder to the pool table, "How long she been here?"
Coleman looked discreetly over at Carly, then back at her, "About ninety minutes. You familiar with Mrs. Corinthos?"
"Not in the way you might think," she snorted, then dragged a twenty from her purse, "Let me know when she looks like she's done."
He accepted the bill, tucking it neatly in his pants pocket, "Sure thing sugar. Can I get you anything else?"
"Is there anything in the kitchen that wouldn't give me food poisoning?"
He laughed again, rich and loud, "I'll see what I can do. You like buffalo wings?"
"That'll do me," she nodded and took a long draw from her bottle, "Add some cheese fries with that and you might just have yourself a new best friend."
"I could always use a new best friend," and the sexual innuendo was blatant.
"Not even if I was blink drunk on absinthe and we were going to die a fiery death," she shot back, making him roar with laughter.
The first Evanescence song turned into another and Sam drew in a deep breath. Someone was in a fucked up mood tonight, she grunted with derision, glancing around the bar discreetly. Nodding her head to the music, she closed her eyes for a second letting it surround her, fill her. The light tap on her shoulder, opened her eyes to a cocky smirk.
"You look like a woman who wants to dance."
He wasn't bad to look at. Tall, lanky, dark eyes and a grin that promised mischief. He wasn't her usual type, there was just a clean honesty about him that shone out of his gaze despite his suggestive manner. Probably a player, went through women like tissue paper. Gather, use, discard could be tattooed over his chest. That wasn't a problem, she wasn't' looking for anything and it was after all just a dance.
"Who's asking?" She smiled, already slipping out of her leather and setting it on the bar.
"Patrick Drake, neurosurgeon."
She giggled at that line, and knew it worked quite well for him. Judging from his cocky manner, he must have bedded countless women from those words alone. "Samantha McCall. Shopkeeper. And I'm not sleeping with you," she felt obligated to point out.
He placed a hand over his chest, "I'm wounded to the core. I never presumed you would."
"You never presumed I wouldn't either," she gave back making him laugh genially.
"All men hope, Ms. McCall, especially when faced with a beautiful woman like you." He held out a hand and she slipped hers inside allowing him to draw her to a empty space.
"You'll turn my head with such lavish compliments," she pursed her lips, slipping into the easy rhythm of the dance with him. She watched him move, the light blue button-down shirt and jeans a nice compliment for his body. He moved well, confident, easy with himself. He didn't try to impress her, or crowd her with some play at seduction. Instead, he genuinely seemed to enjoy dancing.
"Well deserved compliments," he slipped an arm around her waist before she realized his intent. He pulled her snug against him, one leg between hers, and her hands flat against his chest. Their bodies rocked in time with the music, "But I have a feeling you already know that."
And that's how he saw her.
In another man's arms.
Jason stopped inside the bar every night keeping an eye on the Alcazar Scion, so that when Bailey made her move it would be the perfect moment. Their sources revealed that the Scion were found at Jake's most nights, mixing business and pleasure. A contact would arrive, clue them in to a car and one of them would head out for the jack. It was a solid alibi and Jake's was just shady enough where most humans kept to their own business.
Tonight had been no exception. Bailey was on, already spotted the car that the Alcazars would hit but she would get there first. It would be her in. He would make a quick walk through the bar to distract the Scion briefly, then leave. They would follow and see Bailey stealing their mark. A simple and straightforward plan, only he hadn't thought she would be here.
It was a distraction he couldn't afford. It was bad enough he had been watching her. He had long since given up the pretense. Anything between them was doomed to fail but he needed to be near her. To surround himself in her scent. If he had to satisfy himself with being a mere shadow in her life, it would have to be enough. He would sate himself on her lovely face, the soft breath she drew into her lungs as she dreamed, the seductive beat of her heart as it pumped blood through her body.
He would be damned if another bastard would have her.
Touch her.
Taint her pure haunting scent.
The feral growl pulled deep in his chest even as he felt his fangs lengthen. The possessive instinct slammed into his body, tightened, and unfurled with a dark rage that would have struck fear into the heart of any vampire whose path he crossed. All would have recognized the predator that had been unleashed. All would have known not to stray in his path.
Hunger burned in his stomach, with a intensity that blinded him to all other thoughts. His reason for coming tonight was forgotten in the face of his woman. It was insanity.
His woman.
But there it was. And it was inescapable.
He was tired of trying to fight it. Surrendered to its inevitability. Everything within him called to her. Demanded that he take what was destined to be his. There was only One. Walking into the Mist bestowed that knowledge upon the newly risen vampire. One heart, One mate.
One.
After almost a millennia, he had tried to push that need onto Courtney though his heart had screamed the lie it to be. It blinded him to her faults, to her deceit and caused his House and the people he loved more pain than he could ever make amends for.
When all along, she was here. His mate.
"Samantha."
